Review: Vittoria's New Mazza Tire
The Mazza is a fresh addition to Vittoria's mountain bike tire lineup, with a tread pattern that's designed to allow it to excel on trails where those heavily siped knobs have something to dig into.
There are 2.4” and 2.6” versions for both 29” and 27.5” wheels in either a 1.5-ply Trail or 2-ply Enduro casing. Both versions have sidewall protection and anti-pinch flat inserts.
I spent most of my time on the 29 x 2.4” and 2.6” Trail versions, which weigh in at 970 and 1120 grams respectively, and retail for $69.99 USD.
There are 2.4” and 2.6” versions for both 29” and 27.5” wheels in either a 1.5-ply Trail or 2-ply Enduro casing. Both versions have sidewall protection and anti-pinch flat inserts.
I spent most of my time on the 29 x 2.4” and 2.6” Trail versions, which weigh in at 970 and 1120 grams respectively, and retail for $69.99 USD.
Vittoria Mazza Tire Details
• 4C Graphene rubber compund
• Tubeless ready
• Sidewall protection
• Trail and Enduro casing options
• Sizes: 29 x 2.4" or 2.6", 27.5 x 2.4" or 2.6"
• Weight: 970 grams - 29 x 2.4" trail casing / 1120 grams - 29 x 2.6" trail casing
• MSRP: $69.99 USD
• www.vittoria.com
• 4C Graphene rubber compund
• Tubeless ready
• Sidewall protection
• Trail and Enduro casing options
• Sizes: 29 x 2.4" or 2.6", 27.5 x 2.4" or 2.6"
• Weight: 970 grams - 29 x 2.4" trail casing / 1120 grams - 29 x 2.6" trail casing
• MSRP: $69.99 USD
• www.vittoria.com
Details
Tires that use three different rubber compounds are fairly common, but Vittoria took things a step further and turned the dial to up to four. Rather than use the same durometer for the entire base of the tire, Vittoria's 4C compound uses a harder durometer in the very center, where the need for more wear resistance is the greatest, with a slightly softer compound on top. Two different rubber compounds are used for the side knobs, where once again there's a harder layer to help provide support during cornering with a softer compound on the top for grip in wet conditions.
Graphene, a microscopic layer of graphite, is mixed with all of the various rubber compounds, where Vittoria says it fills the spaces between the rubber molecules, increasing the tread lifespan and improving rolling resistance.
The 2.6" version measured a little narrower than claimed...
...while the 2.4" option was on target.
Tread Pattern
The Mazza's tread pattern falls into the Minion DHF-like category, but this isn't a carbon copy of what's arguably the most popular tread pattern in existence. Look closer, and you'll see an extensive amount of siping on every knob that's intended to dictate how and when they're able to deform.
On the side knobs, a deeper cutout is located on the inner block, which is meant to allow that portion to conform to the terrain while the outer portion of the knob remains supported during cornering. The side knobs use an alternating pattern, with two different shapes and positions. The outermost side knobs have a U-shaped cut-out in the center, while the next row, which sits slightly inboard, has a uniform, rectangular outer profile.
Another tread feature that makes the Mazza stand out is the stair-step that's been cut into the larger center knobs. According to Vittoria, that stair step helps it bite into the ground at slower speeds for improved climbing traction, while acting more like a ramped knob at higher speeds. Those stair step knobs alternate with two rectangular blocks that have – you guessed it – more siping, this time in the form of a cut down the middle of each block.
Performance
I tried both the Enduro and Trail versions of the Mazza, but I ended up preferring the Trail versions, due to the lighter weight and more compliant casing. The Enduro version, especially the 2.6” width, is very heavy, at 1447 grams, which is up there even for a full-on downhill tire, and the two-ply construction gives it a stiffer, more wooden feel than the Trail version. The 2.4” width Enduro tire is a little less chunky at 1261 grams, but even if I was planning on racing I'd still probably run a Trail version up front.
The Trail version may be lighter than the Enduro option, but it still offered enough support and pinch flat protection for my local trails, which tend to be more rooty than rocky. I ran 21 psi in the front and 23 psi in the rear on rims with a 30mm inner width. Getting the tires set up tubeless didn't pose any issues, and they popped into place with a floor pump.
I'm picky about tires, and I typically take my time when getting used to a new tread pattern and rubber compound, especially if the trails are wet and slimy. With the Mazzas, the learning curve was short and free of any surprises, even when shiny roots were lurking around every corner. It's a very predictable tire on both the front and the rear, with an impressive amount of grip in all conditions both descending and climbing. The Mazza's worked well on all but the muddiest, greasiest days - in deeper mud and loam they will pack up and lose traction, but that's when a tire with an even more aggressive, blocky pattern would be a better option.
When it comes to cornering, the Mazza's have a fairly round profile, which makes it easy to transition to those side knobs, although those knobs don't bite in the same way that they do on a tire like Michelin's Wild Enduro. With the Wild Enduro, the side knobs act like a serrated knife when you get them on edge; during hard cornering you can feel the side knobs churning up the earth. With the Mazza, the side knobs seem to conform to the ground instead, like the suction-cupped tentacles of an octopus. That means there's not quite as much definition when you really have the tire leaned over, but they did keep gripping well past where I'd expected them to break free.
As far as braking traction goes, the Mazza doesn't have quite the same level of bite as a DHR II, but it's right on par with a Minion DHF. I'd place the Mazza's in the middle of the road when it comes to rolling speed – they didn't feel overly draggy, but they also weren't noticeably faster rolling than similar options.
Durability
The majority of my testing over the last few months took place when the ground was relatively soft, conditions that are conducive to a longer tire lifespan. All the same, I haven't had any flats, and all the knobs are still firmly intact.
Pros
+ Very predictable handling
+ Works well in a wide range of terrain
Cons
- Enduro casing version is on the heavier side of the scale
- Can get overwhelmed in extra-muddy conditions
Pinkbike's Take
 | The Mazza is a mixed conditions master, a great option for riders who want to run one tread pattern all year round without making too many compromises. |
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208 Comments
She has DHF’s on her bike ...
I'm not saying that's exactly what you did. I appreciate that you disclosed that you're affiliated with Vittoria. But that's the way it seems.
Sensible people seem to work at SRAM, they don't really do that shit. Imma buy more SRAM.
I didn't downvote - Disclosing the affiliation is proper etiquette and I also didn't check out the vid. He could have skipped on linking his vid and disclosing affiliation, and still commented on how good he thinks the tire is.
Anyone know if pinkbike prohibits "commercial" activity in the comments ? (however complicated it might be to enforce).
I don't get out of bed, find clothes to wear, pack up my stuff, go to the garage, walk past my fun bikes, pick out my commuter and ride it for 30 minutes in the rain among the traffic, lock up, change clothes, then sit at my desk for 9 - 10 hours a day out of the goodness of my heart either.
This is REAL feedback from the trail.
This tire completes a line that Vittoria has been growing over the past few years. Of course there will be resemblance to other tires throughout product lines. You could all argue the new ford ranger looks a lot like a toyota tacoma, because yes, its a mid-size truck in the year 2020. The Martello is a great fast rolling dry tire great for places like moab, while the Mota is great for soft soil or mud like that in the PNW, but the Mazza is important to bridge the gap in between. As the review above confirms, the Mazza are superior in a wide range of changing conditions and this tire will become my primary set for all types of soil and weather. There are distinct differences when compared to other tires in the same family produced by other brands and that is why these tires are worth a try. Some people have done a good job picking up on the details of this tire and how it translates to performance, but to reiterate some of the highlights:
The aggressive siping gives this tire impressive and predictable grip. The knobs have the ability to grasp obstacles which translates to keeping you on the intended line.
The graphene and 4C compound translates to better durability and the need to change your tires out less. We have all seen the Maxxis side knobs hit that point after a couple weeks where they begin to peel off. That will not happen with Vittoria's 4C/graphene combo, but instead they will slowly decay over a noticeably longer amount of time. To anyone debating why to spend $69 on a Vittoria versus similar offerings, this fact about the longevity and durability should be justification enough as this tire will last you longer than it's competitors, thereby saving you money. I have raced this compound for 5 weeks in the rear and over 2 months in the front without compromising traction.
For all those so passionately opposed, I challenge you to ride one.
Weird.
shops and no one carries them yet. Apparently, it's the same supplier for almost all of Canada. Mazza isn't listed as an option in their order systems yet... Went to Vittoria's website to order direct but they don't seem to want to ship to Canada... Anyone got any ideas on how to get one???
If I had one complaint it would be that in shake. loose material the Martello can let go sooner than I'd like. In every other regard the Martello is phenomenal.
How does the Mazza compare to the Martello in regards to RR, hard pack traction, loose rock traction, dust on hard pack, etc...?
Tires are always an incremental improvement. There's not much of a difference in looks between a WTB Velociraptor Rear and a Maxxis DHR2, but there's a big difference in performance. They mention several of the differences between this tire and a DHF in the article, and it's pretty visible if you know what to look for. Not to mention, Vittoria has a way better casing and rubber. But if you just want to get hung up on some generic similarities between the Mazza and a DHF, feel free...
Kenda Pinner
Versus new tire
Vittoria Mazza
Bontrager XR/SE5
Specialized Butcher
eThirteen
...etc
Could be informative! Also - I am sure the comment section would be lit
(While we're sure our tire would do well, watching the comments section explode would be hilarious)
Mike and Mike do timed laps, same bike / wheels, only variable is the treads, and they are blind with no bias. Someone at the bottom pulls the wheels, collects there times and notes and they’re shuttled back to the top.
When I was a poor (bmx) kid back in the 90's I wished for new tyres, war and all... my bmx never got them.
I've just got two 26" Rock Razors... see where I'm coming from?
Vittoria is for the new kids.
I could take any bike with MMary/RRazor and feel comfortable,
Put DHF/DHR on my trusty old bike and I'll go cautiously, can't trust my own damn bike man although the tyres are great they feel different.
The DHF is a very specialized tyre. It’s designed to work on hard surfaces or fast trails. Most people treat them like a do it all tyre and that’s why they don’t get on with them. For fast, firm trails that don’t require a lot of braking DHF’s are king.
PS: I love that Vittoria uses Italian names for some of their tires. My favorite still remains the Barzo, which basically means "boner" lol
Front: Maxxis DHF 3c 2.6WT (it's too wide/too much volume honestly)
Rear: Maxxis Aggressor 2.4 DD (wish it had a little more grip)
What Vittoria combo should I run?
Front: 2.6 Mazza trail?
Rear: 2.4 Mazza enduro?
All these model names are confusing as hell
Alright, if I switch it looks a good combo would be:
Front: 2.4 Mazza trail
Rear: 2.35 Martello enduro
2.6 Mazza trail front (its casing is far more precise steering than the fluffy feeling Maxxis 2.6) and
2.6 Agarro rear (only comes in trail casing so if you run inserts its indestructible or if you are concerned and dont run inserts then try the Mazza 2.35 Enduro Casing )
The Vittoria Trail casing is equivalent to a Maxxis Exo+ casing in terms of strength.
They use an insert at the bead of the trail casing which stiffens the sidewall nicely for terrific feel and precision.
Compared to a 2.3 Agressor (have not tested a 2.4?) the Agarro is much faster rolling, grips much better especially in wet/wet rock/wet root conditions and is much much stronger.
I have not run a Martello out back but as a front tyre in 2.6 Trail casing its more precise than my Exo+ Assegai MaxxTerra 2.5 in the dry and wet but does not have that insane loose condition grip of the Assegai.
It rolls much much better on soft conditions/ rock than the tank feeling Assegai.
Given that the Mazza is a 'bigger brother' to the Martello the Mazza should be a sublime loose condition and all round tyre. Can't wait to try it
It feels different than a Michelin Wild Enduro, but does this mean there's less grip?
I currently run a 2.5 DHF / 2.5 Aggressor on my Ripmo, happy with it but like trying different stuff.
Ride 50% Right Foot Ridge / 50% Boulder Ranch's (Walker, White, Hall, Heil)
2.5 Assegai / 2.4 Dissesctor, or 2.6 Mazza / 2.6 Aggaro?
I'm gonna do whatever you say.
Every Vittoria Geax tire I have had, it has been true to size. More than any other brands. If anything they are a little larger.
Not disagreeing. But it is worth noting the 2.6 appears to fit the 30mm IW rim. The 2.4 looks pretty squared-off.
There are so many variables - internal rim dimension for example.
If you run say Ibis rims with 40mm internal your casing measurements will definitely be bigger. If you are a traditional Euro on 25mm internal then your casings will run smaller.
Furthermore some examples: MSC tyres sidewalls say 2.3 and 2.4 but their casings measure 2.5" and 2.6" !
Maxxis and Conti almost ALWAYS run undersize comparing actual casing width to sidewall sizes stated
Schwalbe tend to be consistent with their casings generally reflecting sizewall values but sometimes they run bigger depending on what rim you use.
Its annoying but dont point the finger at Vittoria. They are just another manufacturer using their own definitions
I would assume that eveybody knows not to run a tire bigger than 2.4 on a 30 ID rim.
Also, tubeless rim walls are not all the same. Some taller, some shorter etc... This will affect the tire profile and size.
There are specific reasons why incorporating a mess of random fullerines and amorphous graphite into a rubber compound can improve the deformation and traction characteristics, but everything mentioned in here is broadly inaccurate.
So is this replacing the Morsa? Or can someone give an idea of what the difference in the two are?
Getting unexcited about my nobby nics on loose over hard and looking around for what else is out there.
I’m sorry but I still love 26” & some of the new tyre designs look fantastic (I’m looking @ you Michelin) but are in 27.5 and/or 29” only!
Whats Vittoria putting in these tires?
"Uh oh! Vittoria just stole your KOM!"
Check out for example Bike Rumor for this one bikerumor.com/2020/06/15/vittoria-mazza-all-terrain-enduro-tire-is-truckin-w-deep-aggressive-tread-pattern-and-burly-edges and pretty much any other "test" that appears on Pinkbike.
Embargoes aren't some sort of conspiracy - they let companies make sure they have the product in stock or coming soon when it's officially announced. They often get media samples ahead of time, which allows us to test bikes and components before the launch date.
Maxxis has great tread patterns but less-great casing options and rubber compounds. If other brands want to make improved copies that work better, I’m all for it.
We're fickle little creatures.
Financials in the industry are scant, but take Giant as an example, 7x more $ spent on sales and marketing than R&D (I know, not the highest technical or perceived quality in the industry, but the numbers are telling of how most consumer brands operate between marketing and R&D)